MOC wrap-ECU baseball

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on February 23, 2012 1:48 PM

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College softball

Mount Olive 3-2, Francis Marion 2-0

* MOUNT OLIVE -- Rebekah McDaniel and Beth Overman both picked a perfect time for their first collegiate home runs and Mount Olive head softball coach Jaime Kylis reached the 200-win plateau on a sunsplashed Wednesday afternoon at Nancy Chapman Cassell Field.

McDaniel swatted a seventh-inning, walk-off home run to give Mount Olive a 3-2 victory over Francis Marion (S.C.) University in the opener. Overman's two-out, two-run blast in the sixth inning propelled the Trojans to a 2-0 triumph in the nightcap.

MOC (8-2 overall) is off to its best start since 2007 when it won nine of its first 10 games. The Trojans conclude a string of six consecutive home doubleheaders when CIAA member Virginia Union pays a visit Saturday. First pitch is noon.

Christie Wright's sixth-inning, solo home run broke up Kayla Ellingsen's shutout bid in game one. Ellingsen logged 10 strikeouts inside the pitcher's circle, but couldn't close the deal in the latter stages. Kayla Voorhees provided the game-tying RBI single in the sixth before McDaniel gave MOC its second walk-off victory of the season.

Lauren Smith earned the mound win.

Game two was a pitcher's duel between Smith and FMU pitcher Taylor Luff, who retired 11 Trojan batters and did not allow a hit until McDaniel's lead-off single in the bottom of the fifth.

In the bottom of the sixth, Jones again made an impact as a pinch-hitter, drawing a one-out walk. One out later, Overman drilled the first pitch over the center-field fence to give the freshman first baseman her first home run and give the Trojans the lead.

College baseball

ECU 10, Old Dominion 4

* GREENVILLE -- Junior John Wooten delivered the go-ahead hit and No. 20-ranked East Carolina knocked off Old Dominion, 10-4, on Wednesday afternoon.

Wooten ripped a two-run homer to put ECU in front 6-4 and the Pirates collected six runs over the final four innings to remain unbeaten in four outings this season. Chase McDonald, who was plunked by ODU pitcher Erick Baker, scored on Wooten's second dinger of the season.

Junior Andy Smithmyer permitted one run and logged four strikeouts in three innings of relief.

ECU plays host to Purdue on Friday in the ninth annual Keith LeClair Classic.

Francis Marion 4, Mount Olive 1

* FLORENCE, S.C. -- Mount Olive junior first baseman Daniel Oliver slugged his first home run of the season and four pitchers kept No. 12-ranked Francis Marion (S.C.) University in check most of the afternoon, but the Patriots limited the Trojans to four hits in a 4-1 victory.

It was a rematch of last year's Southeast Region championship game won by the Trojans, who eventually tied for third at the 2011 NCAA Division II College World Series. No one had more than one hit for the Trojans.

On the mound, starter Skyler Sopotnick tossed four innings, allowing three hits and one unearned run. Josh Frederick (0-1), Ryan Poplin and Matt Dillon allowed two earned runs over the final four innings.

The Trojans (5-4 overall) play host to Belmont Abbey on Friday and Saturday.